I And Thou

Some nights I can’t even bearto reach for you. Your long,long legs, the dark flamethat blooms acrossone shoulder, your mineral-blueeyes turning and turningover the broken-down relicsmy family hoards.You, of unknown origin:chimney sweepsand cemetery crews.Builders of roadmy people clattered down,unthinking. What is marriagebut two ships passing,one sending its captainaboard the other for a gam?No. That’s me hijackingthe metaphor again. My peopleare of water, yours of stone.Yet the Nantucket Quakersbelieved in hailing their fellowsas thou—a warmth, a bridgefrom you to me.As in this wave-soaked sand.The point of erosion.Our bodies, lying here,make the seam.